Time has not been kind to many companies founded in the internet's early days. AOL, CompuServe and Prodigy were once household names in the industry, but ultimately open protocols like TCP/IP, HTTP and SMTP won out. Why? Because open protocols create globe-spanning network effects that no single project can match.

Web3 faces a similar crossroads today. Just like the old web needed open protocols to go global, Web3 does as well.

Axelar's Mobius Development Stack (MDS) provides a suite of open tools and protocols for cross-chain communication, unlocking a new design space for truly chain-agnostic applications. Developers can build the next generation of Web3 applications that span multiple blockchains.

Discover how to leverage Axelar MDS to build innovative cross-chain applications that unlock new possibilities in DeFi, NFTs, enterprise solutions and beyond. This guide provides practical implementation patterns and architecture examples to help you create powerful chain-agnostic applications.

Tldr: Key Use Cases

• Cross-Chain Liquidity Aggregation: Real-time price discovery and atomic settlement across multiple clains with unified liquidity pools.
• RWA Tokenization Platform: Fractionalize and trade real-world assets across any blockchain while maintaining regulatory compliance.
• Enterprise-Grade Blockchain Bridge: Connect private enterprise chains to public networks with customizable privacy and security controls.

Building with Mobius Development Stack

The Axelar Mobius Development Stack provides the essential building blocks for creating truly chain-agnostic applications. Through its core components - Interchain Amplifier, Interchain Token Service, and Axelar Virtual Machine - developers can implement sophisticated cross-chain architectures without dealing with the complexity of individual chains. The following examples show how to leverage these tools to build powerful applications that span the global web.

Cross-Chain Liquidity Aggregator

Imagine a decentralized exchange (DEX) that leverages Axelar MDS to create a true cross-chain liquidity aggregator. This can be accomplished by deploying a central order routing smart contract on the AVM. This contract interfaces with liquidity pools on multiple chains (e.g., Ethereum, Arbitrum, Optimism, Polygon). From the user's perspective, there's no bridging involved, and it opens up new arbitrage and liquidation opportunities, because price discovery can happen across chains in real-time.

Cross-Chain Order Execution

A user initiates a trade on Ethereum to swap ETH for USDC. The AVM contract checks liquidity across all connected chains. It finds the best rate on Arbitrum and initiates a cross-chain swap using General Message Passing (GMP).

Portfolio management tools can execute across ecosystems and rebalance assets based on opportunities across markets regardless of the underlying blockchain.

Atomic Settlement

A trade is executed on Arbitrum, resulting in USDC instantly being sent back to a user on Ethereum. This setup provides users with the best execution across multiple chains without leaving their native environment.

Real-World Asset (RWA) Tokenization 

One of the most promising applications of blockchain technology is the tokenization of real-world assets (RWAs), and Axelar MDS is positioned to lead this space. The Interchain Token Service can enable tokenization of assets like real estate, commodities, or even intellectual property, creating liquidity with traditionally illiquid assets and enabling fractional ownership on a global scale.

Axelar MDS's chain-abstracted interoperability not only increases the liquidity and accessibility of these RWAs but also opens up new possibilities for complex financial products that span multiple blockchain ecosystems.

Cross-Chain NFTs

Artists mint NFTs on their preferred chain (e.g., Ethereum) using an ITS-compatible contract. The NFT metadata and ownership are mirrored on other chains (e.g., Polygon, Arbitrum) via Axelar GMP. Users can browse and purchase NFTs from any supported chain. When an NFT is sold on a non-native chain, the royalty payment is automatically routed to the creator's wallet on their original chain. This is achieved through a smart contract on the AVM that manages cross-chain royalty payments. This system allows for a unified NFT ecosystem across multiple blockchains, which increases liquidity and reach for creators.

Private-Public Blockchain Bridge

Enterprises can use Axelar MDS to create secure bridges between private and public blockchains by connecting their private blockchain to Axelar using the Interchain Amplifier. A smart contract on the AVM manages access control and data translation between the private and public chains. The enterprise can selectively share supply chain data with partners on public chains without compromising sensitive information. Public chain users can verify the authenticity of products using data from the private chain, without direct access to the private network. This allows enterprises to leverage the benefits of public blockchains while maintaining control over sensitive data.

Multi-Chain IoT Data Oracles 

A DePIN project focused on climate data collection can deploy sensors across various locations. These sensors feed data to a smart contract on the AVM, which acts as a multi-chain oracle. The AVM contract can then distribute this data to various blockchain networks, allowing DeFi protocols on different chains to access real-time climate data for parametric insurance or climate-linked bonds.

Interoperable DePIN Marketplaces 

A marketplace for decentralized storage could leverage Axelar MDS to create a unified platform across multiple chains. Users can pay for storage using any supported token, with the AVM handling currency conversion and contract execution. Storage providers can offer services and receive payments on their preferred chains, while the system maintains a cohesive marketplace across all connected networks.

How to Get Started

For too long, Web3 has battled against its own centralization tendencies, trying to lock users within individual chains and projects. This has led to the proliferation of walled gardens, each promising to be the one true solution.

But the real power of Web3 lies in the collective strength of a truly interoperable ecosystem with applications that span the entire decentralized web. The future of Web3 isn't about choosing sides or building higher walls. It's about tearing down barriers and creating a unified, interoperable landscape where developers can build without constraints.

• Learn more at axelar.network/mobius.
• Start building at docs.axelar.dev.

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